Three men who wished to join the force are claiming they were discriminated against because of the maximum age limit of 35 years for new trainee gardaí. The Equality Tribunal took the view that, as it was the body established to enforce national and EU employment equality legislation, it had all the necessary powers to hear the case. In 2009, the High Court ruled that the Equality Tribunal had no power to decide if the 35-year age limit was discriminatory. Mr Justice Peter Charleton said only the High Court could make a declaration that the Garda age limit was in conflict with EU legislation. The minister and the Garda commissioner have argued the rules on age are consistent with the Equality Act and the EU Equal Treatment Directive.

Source: Irish Examiner June 04, 2018 23:26 UTC